The Avalanche of Demands for Resignation

A GNA Feature by Francis Ameyibor

Accra, Oct. 21, GNA - The steady growth of the Fourth Republican Democratic Dispensation continues to unveil new political and administrative dynamism, hitherto unknown to the Ghanaian political culture.

From the age where some political parties in the face of embarrassing defeat boycotted the parliamentary elections in 1992, to the current foot soldier phenomenon has brought to the fore the urgent need to take a critical look at Ghana's fledgling democratic dispensation.

A new phenomenon of "Agitation for Resignation," has emerged recently with some groups, organisations or individuals calling on one person or the other to resign or be sacked. Those affected include the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood; a number of Ministers of State and Members of Parliament; District Chief Executives; Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawia Quaye; The Reverend Dr Asante Antwi, Former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church and The Arch-Bishop Palmer Buckle of the Accra Diocese of the Catholic Church.

OPENING OF THE FLOODGATES OF CALLS FOR RESIGNATION

Nine days after the change of Government in January 2009; the Central Committee of the National Union of Harbour Employees sent the first request calling on President John Evans Atta Mills to sack Mr Ben Owusu Mensah, Director General (DG) of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

Addressing a press conference in Tema, the General Secretary, Jerry John Jebuni said the task of the Union was to unveil a monstrous act of gross injustice perpetuated by Mr Owusu Mensah.

Following on the heels of the Union's agitation, Abednego Orstin Rawlings, an Activist of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), advised President Mills to sack all Directors, Accountants and Caterers appointed by the Former President John Agyekum Kufuor's Government. Orstin Rawlings alleged that all appointees hired during Former President Kufuor's regime were sympathisers of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), claiming; "they will do all they can to make President Mills' administration a failure".

The heat was on, the NDC's Greater Accra Regional Tertiary Educational Institutions Network (TEIN), also asked President Mills to sack the Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey, with immediate effect. It indicated that failure to comply with the call would compel the group to "boycott all party activities being organized within the Minister's constituency, until he ceases to be Minister, and we shall not be happy if the President does not sack the Minister," Dr David Sunu stated.

Then Assembly Members of Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District in the Central Region had the nerve to give what they termed a final warning to the President of the Republic, Professor Mills to sack the District Chief Executive of the area, Madam Aba Edusah from office or face the consequence.

Speaking at a press conference at Abura Dunkwa, a Spokesperson for the Assembly Members, Mr Stephen Akwah claimed Madam Edusah has been amassing wealth for herself, exhibited gross disrespect as well as approving contracts without the knowledge of the Assembly adding the actions of the DCE was jeopardizing the development of the District. As the agitation for removal of DCEs intensified, President Mills held a series of closed-door meetings with DCEs and assured them that he would not be influenced by calls for their dismissal for alleged non-performance.

Mr Koku Anyidoho, Director of Communication at the Presidency told Journalists that the President, however, charged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to be more innovative and proactive in addressing development challenges of the people. Some DCEs mistook the President's leniency for his weakness and failed to live-up to expectations, forcing President Mills to caution them against complacency in the discharge of their work, else the "axe" would fall on them.

As the thermometer was getting to the boiling point with almost every month witnessing agitation for the removal of a DCE, the President of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah urged DCEs not to let criticisms dampen their spirits. Rather, they must regard the criticisms as a challenge to motivate them to work harder to achieve set goals.

"Let the criticisms strengthen us to focus but not to discourage us to depart from our set goals," he stressed.

CALL ON THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO RESIGN

Then a Reverend Kwarteng Amening, Executive Director of the Gospel Evangelical Crusades and Providence Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation, also followed with a call for the resignation of the current Chief Justice Mrs Wood.

He alleged that the CJ has breeched the Constitution by openly associating herself with the NPP, during the 2008 Presidential Election Runoff.

But supporters of Chief Justice Woods have described the resignation demand as a witch-hunt vendetta calculated to soil her impeccable judicial reputation.

RESIGNATION OF MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Minority in Parliament and the Alliance for Democratic Governance, a pressure group, came in with their demand for the resignation or immediate dismissal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni citing a damning Auditor Generals report that implicated him of financial impropriety.

But another group immediately sprung-up calling itself Northern United Democratic Front to defend the Minister and described the call for his resignation as sabotage of Northerners.

According to Mr Iddrisu Haadi, Spokesperson of the group, Alhaji Mumuni was the first Northerner to have been appointed to that position and any attempt to deny him the position would tantamount an affront to Northerners.

RESIGNATION OF IGP

The Alliance for Accountable Governance another pressure group also launched an operation "IGP must go," calling for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye for allegedly failing to secure the lives of citizens.

But Dr Emmanuel Kwasi Anning told the Ghana News Agency that the demand was illegitimate, explaining that the Ghana Police Service under Mr Quaye has been very responsive to the security challenges of Ghana. "The IGP and his team are actually beginning to shape and to change an embedded institutional culture in which the Police attempted to but was terribly unresponsive until now, Dr Anning who is a security expert stated.

According to him there is a "qualitative change" in the operations of the Police Service under IGP Quaye and must be given the room to operate.

TEMA OIL REFINERY

Angry workers of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) also demanded the immediate removal of the Minister of Energy Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei; Deputy Minister of Energy in Charge of Oil and Gas, Mr Kofi Buah and Mr Ato Ahwoi and Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, both Advisors to the Government on the Energy Sector.

The TOR workers, made the call during a staff durbar accusing the Minister and the Energy Advisors as people working against the interest of TOR and Ghanaians as a whole.

CASUALTIES OF THE AGITATIONS

President Mills sacked Mr Carl Wilson, Chairman of the Confiscated Vehicles Committee (CVC), a released issued and signed by the President's Head of Communications, Koku Anyidoho and made available to the GNA stated.

The release said; "per a directive from His Excellency President Mills, Mr Wilson's appointment as Chairman of the CVC has been terminated with immediate effect," without stating any reason. "The Acting National Youth Coordinator, Dr Sekou Nkrumah, has been relieved of his post," a letter signed by the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Nii Nortey Dua on behalf of the President Mills gave Dr Nkrumah just seven days to pack out of his office.

As the DCEs failed to heed President Mills' warnings, the axe started falling on them; with a directive that the Offinso-South Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Victor Amponsah be suspended indefinitely with immediate effect.

A statement signed by Mr Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications at the Office of the President, made available to the GNA did not give any reason.

Another casualty, Dr Kwame Ampofo, Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery was also kicked out of office, by President Mills. The list of casualties is endless as a Regional Minister, DCEs, directors and other government functionaries have already been kick out of office.

FORMER PRESIDENT'S SHOW OF SOLIDARITY

In the midst of the agitation Former President Jerry John Rawlings said he knew President Mills to be a disciplined person but he must also learn to rein in the people around him and if they refused to be disciplined, he should boot them out.

Addressing a gathering of largely NDC foot soldiers and a number of Parliamentarians at his Ridge residence during a reception he and his wife, Nana Konadu organised the Former President urged support for President Mills but called on him to also do the right things for positive results.

He said sometimes when he looked at events in the NDC it appeared to him as though a new spirit other than what united every member and bonded each other in a communal spirit had taken over the Party. "No, this is not the spirit of the NDC. NDC, like we did, we sit together at the table, and we eat together and we talk together," Former President Rawlings said.

NCCE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) condemned the rising usage of physical and verbal violence by functionaries of political parties to register their dissatisfaction about the performance of public officials.

"Even though demonstrations and agitations are allowed under the 1992 Constitution, the resort to violence and destruction of property is unacceptable.the Police Service must, therefore, be steadfast to instil discipline, respect for law and order to protect life and property," Mr Laary Bimi, NCCE Chairman, told the GNA in Accra.

He said the actions of foot soldiers were a violation of the Public Order Act 1994."the Police, therefore, have a constitutional mandate to enforce law and order irrespective of one's political persuasion, status in society or tribal inclinations".

Mr Bimi explained, however, that the demonstrations and agitations were a wake-up call for public accountability, which was an essential ingredient to democratic principles.

The resignation phenomenon is therefore a call for public authority, whether elected or non-elected, and all bodies of public authority, to uphold the tenets of accountability which entail the public's right of access to information about the activities of Government; the right to petition Government and to seek redress through impartial administrative and judicial mechanisms.

The public has the right to air their discontent about any public officer, who deviates from performing the role entrusted to him or her however people must register their concern in accordance with the Constitution the Supreme Law of the land. 21 Oct. 10